Jayson Tatum might miss his first recreation since getting back from harm when the Celtics face the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder on Thursday evening. Tatum is listed as questionable to play with “proper Achilles restore reconditioning.” He’s appeared in three video games thus far for the Celtics, averaging 19.7 factors, 6.7 rebounds, and three.7 assists.
Derrick White can also be questionable to play as he offers with a proper knee contusion. It seems probably he suffered that harm on the finish of the third quarter of Tuesday’s Celtics recreation in opposition to the San Antonio Spurs, although the workforce has but to specify.
And, the Celtics proceed to be with out Nikola Vucevic, who fractured his proper index finger final Friday and underwent surgical procedure on Saturday. The Celtics mentioned then that Vucevic could be re-evaluated in three to 4 weeks, which means he’s unlikely to return with a lot time to spare within the common season.
With Vucevic sidelined, Luka Garza is more likely to maintain seeing elevated minutes. Throughout the three video games since Vucevic’s harm, he’s averaged 6.7 factors in 17.7 minutes, after falling out of the rotation for the reason that commerce deadline.
Payton Pritchard, who missed Tuesday’s recreation attributable to neck spasms, is possible.
How the Celtics, Thunder stack up
The Thunder, regardless of an injury-riddled 2025-2026 marketing campaign, have been the NBA’s finest workforce all season lengthy. They’re 51-15, have the league’s finest web ranking at +10.8. The Thunder have the NBA’s finest defensive ranking at 106.2, and its Seventh-best offensive ranking at 117. They’ve gained 9 of their final 10 video games, and 6 straight.
The Thunder have been with out Jalen Williams (hamstring), Alex Caruso (hip), and Isaiah Hartenstein (calf) of late.
However totally different gamers have stepped up of their absence. For instance, in opposition to the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday, Jaylin Williams exploded for 29 factors and 12 rebounds. And guards Ajay Mitchell (a 2024 second-round choose) and Jared McCain (acquired on the commerce deadline) have performed key minutes off the bench.
And, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander appears just like the MVP front-runner; he’s averaging 31.7 factors and 6.6 assists per recreation, whereas taking pictures 55.1% from the sector and 38.3% from three.
After shedding to the Spurs on Tuesday, the Celtics are 43-22 and have the NBA’s second-best web ranking at +7.9. The Celtics have the league’s second-best offensive ranking (119.8) and fifth-best defensive ranking (111.8).
The 2 groups have but to face one another this season, however will meet twice this month, the second match-up approaching March twenty fifth at TD Backyard.
Final 12 months, the Celtics went 0-2 in opposition to the Thunder.
The Celtics are set to face the Thunder on Thursday at 9pm ET at Paycom Middle.
